Glossary of Auto Terms

DriverSide's Car Dictionary has the most comprehensive definitions of automotive terms. This auto glossary can help you decipher what your mechanic is fixing and what the purpose or function of the particular auto part or accessory is for. We have taken the mystery out of automotive service jargon, so that you don't have to.

Generator

Not unlike the generator you've got in the garage, just smaller, this is a belt driven device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in order to power electrical accessories and also to recharge the battery.